No movement was made at first, but the moment the enemy made out that the light was rushing silently at them again, they uttered a wild shout of horror and dismay and began to paddle as hard as they could for the opening in the reef, to escape from the fiery star that had dropped from the heavens and was now chasing them to burn them up. Ignorance and fear went hand in hand, for there was the dazzling star but nothing more to be seen. There might have been no yacht in existence for all they could tell. It was enough that the fiery light like a great eye was fixed upon them in full pursuit, and away they went, faster probably than canoes ever travelled before, till the dark portion was reached where there were no breakers, and the leading canoe rushed out, followed by the others, and away to sea, horror-stricken at the great mystery they had seen, and in no wise lightened by the fact that the star suddenly disappeared as the last canoe dashed out from the lagoon. "I think that has startled them," said the captain, as he had the light shut off and gave the order for the yacht to go slowly astern, as he made, as well as the darkness would allow, for their old quarters, but did not reach them, it being more prudent to drop another anchor at once. No lights were shown and the strictest watch was kept, when the gentlemen went below to their late dinner, and discussed over it the probabilities of a return of the enemy. "No, you won't receive another visit from them in the dark, gentlemen," said Captain Bradleigh merrily. "The star they saw will be talked about among them for years. That big light must have been a scare; but I expect we shall have them again by daylight, for this yacht would be a prize worth having. But we shall see." "Well," said the doctor, "I should think that the maker of that light would be surprised if he knew to what purpose it was put." "Yes," said the captain, "I should say it is the first time an illuminated figure-head was used to scare a war-party of blacks." "What about to-night, Captain Bradleigh?" said Jack anxiously. "Well, if I were you, sir, I should go to bed and have a good long sleep." "Oh, impossible," cried the lad; "I could not close my eyes for feeling that the blacks were come back." "Try, sir," said the captain; and when the others went to lie down, on the captain's assurance that steam would be still on and the strictest watch would be kept, Jack lay down to try. But he did not try, he had no time. Wearied out with the dangers of the day, he laid his head on his pillow, after placing a double gun and loaded revolver close to the bed's head, and just closed his eyes. They did not open again till Ned stood there and announced that it was "some bells," and that it was time to rise. "How many, Ned?" said Jack sleepily. "Oh, I dunno, sir, only that it answers to seven o'clock." "And the savages?" cried Jack excitedly.